Origin
Livingston, TX
Evening in Livingston on Friday
Local time
6:37 PM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Livingston, TX to Houston, TX
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 24m
Distance
73.3 mi
118 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 18m
★
6 AM
1h 24m
8 AM
1h 37m
10 AM
1h 29m
12 PM
1h 27m
3 PM
1h 29m
5 PM
1h 36m
8 PM
1h 20m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Livingston, TX
Action Construction Equipment Ltd. - ACE
Houston, TX
Trace Hudson
Trip Overview
Traveling from Livingston to Houston is a straightforward 73.6-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 14 minutes. Since both cities are located within the Great Plains region of Texas, you will experience a consistent landscape throughout your trip. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay. With fuel costs estimated at just $11, it is a very budget-friendly trip for commuters or weekend visitors. Whether you are heading into the city for business or leisure, this drive offers a reliable and efficient connection between these two points.
About the Cities
Arriving in Houston, TX
Full guide →Houston is a sprawling port city in Southeastern Texas. An oil boom and continuing international immigration has brought explosive growth to the city, and it is now the fifth largest metropolitan area in the United States and the most diverse large city since 2021. While at first glance, the city appears to be a 9-5 central business district surrounded by a sea of suburbs and strip malls, there are many hidden gems to be discovered.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 24m. Total distance: 73.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 24m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise on this 73.6-mile trek. You will be navigating via Pan American Drive along with sections of I-10 East and I-10 West to reach your destination. While the route utilizes major thoroughfares, the local road segments require your full attention behind the wheel. Because the highway share is 0%, you should prepare for a driving experience that relies more on local navigation than high-speed cruising. Stay alert through the turns, as the road character shifts as you transition between the smaller town feel of Livingston and the urban density of Houston.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 59 is the longest continuous segment at about 68.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 59 and Pan American Drive. You will hit about 7 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2.6 miles in near US 59.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 73.3 miles you will encounter 7 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.6 miles (US 59): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 71.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 71.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 7 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
2.6 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
US 59
Merge onto US 59
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
71.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 19m in
Take the exit toward I 10 East, I 10 West: Beaumont, San Antonio
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 132
Toward I 10 East, I 10 West: Beaumont, San Anto...
8
71.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 19m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 10 West: San Antonio
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 10 West: San Antonio
8
72 mi into trip
|
~1h 20m in
Take the exit toward San Jacinto Street, Main Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 769B
Toward San Jacinto Street, Main Street
5
73.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 23m in
|
Louisiana Street
Turn right onto Louisiana Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 59 | 68.5 mi | 1h 15m |
| Pan American Drive | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| North Washington Avenue | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| East Freeway | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Fannin Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| North San Jacinto Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Prairie Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Providence Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 59
— 68.5 mi, about 1h 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Livingston, TX and Houston, TX.
1
Start on US 59 Business
0.6 mi
·
58 sec
·
North Washington Avenue
2
Continue on US 59 Business
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Pan American Drive
3
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
4
Merge onto US 59
68 mi
·
1 hr 15 min
·
US 59
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Exit 132
Toward I 10 East, I 10 West: Beaumont, San Antonio
Use the slight right lane.
6
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward I 10 West: San Antonio
Use the slight right lane.
7
Merge onto I 10; US 90
0.5 mi
·
35 sec
·
East Freeway
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Exit 769B
Toward San Jacinto Street, Main Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Turn straight onto Providence Street
0.1 mi
·
12 sec
·
Providence Street
10
Continue on North San Jacinto Street
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
·
North San Jacinto Street
11
Continue on Fannin Street
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
·
Fannin Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
12
Turn right onto Prairie Street
0.3 mi
·
48 sec
·
Prairie Street
13
Turn right onto Louisiana Street
516 ft
·
16 sec
·
Louisiana Street
14
Arrive at destination
Louisiana Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 36.6 mi from Livingston, TX · 41m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
37 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 36.6 miles from Livingston, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 59 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 68.5 miles.
Arriving in Houston, TX
The final approach into Houston, TX usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.08 one way
$22.15 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
26 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.20 | $12.12 | $24.25 |
| premium | $4.54 | $13.09 | $26.17 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $16.18 | $32.37 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 22 | 0 | $7.70 | $3.52 |
| Efficient EV | 18.3 | 0 | $6.41 | $2.93 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 29.3 | 0 | $10.26 | $4.69 |
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (65% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Houston, TX
Evening in Houston on Friday
Local time
6:37 PM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
19 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 24m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Livingston, TX to Houston, TX covers 73.3 miles and takes about 1h 24m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 59, Pan American Drive, North Washington Avenue. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 36.6 miles from Livingston, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $11.08 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 73.3 miles you will encounter 7 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.6 miles (US 59): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 71.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 71.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Livingston, TX to Houston, TX does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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